Refractometers

aqualab · 11/17/2006, 01:46 PM

Captive Reef or Sybon? Does it matter - Why?

FiReC · 11/17/2006, 02:04 PM

i got a captive purity last week and one of the hinge pins fell out already, i think its a piece of crap.

aqualab · 11/17/2006, 02:10 PM

Saw this one on Drs f & s - anybody?
Vital Sine Refractometer

oldsaltman · 11/17/2006, 02:15 PM

I have the RHS-10ATC from Marine Depot and am happy with it. It's cheap and accurate.

titan04 · 11/17/2006, 02:34 PM

Any should be ok... Just make sure NOT to calibrate them with RO/DI and calibrate them with 53mS or 35ppt saltwater calibration fluid. You can make your own as well but if you are ordering one it is only like $2 more.

I have had a few calibrated with RO/DI and they were reading 1.025 when it was really 1.022. Once you calibrate them with the right fluid all is well. Most of the cheaper ones are 99% not dead on if you calibrate them with RO/DI and probably most the expensive ones as well.

oldsaltman · 11/17/2006, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by titan04
Any should be ok... Just make sure NOT to calibrate them with RO/DI and calibrate them with 53mS or 35ppt saltwater calibration fluid. You can make your own as well but if you are ordering one it is only like $2 more.

I have had a few calibrated with RO/DI and they were reading 1.025 when it was really 1.022. Once you calibrate them with the right fluid all is well. Most of the cheaper ones are 99% not dead on if you calibrate them with RO/DI and probably most the expensive ones as well.

Mine is one of the exceptions to this. I had been calibration it with RO and then read that some of them were off by .002 or so. I checked mine with Randy's DIY mix and with my LFS and now a bottle of the new cal fluid and mine is right on at zero and 35ppt.

titan04 · 11/17/2006, 02:58 PM

I knew there would be exceptions to the rule

But it is good to double check it with what you actually are wanting to measure... just as a check if nothing else... we spend enough money on stability without having to laugh at the LFS for saying your water is lower in salinity only to find out they were right :-(

oldsaltman · 11/17/2006, 03:00 PM

IMO - I think that any refractometer is useless unless it is properly and accurately calibrated.

aqualab · 11/19/2006, 09:32 AM

Looks like I will go with Premium Aquatics Sybon version - they are presently out of stock right now though. I also saw one made by Milwaukee too - I would think some of these are made by the same company - just put their own name on it. Prices are all over the place on these. Do you really need the lighted version - or just a gimmick? Auto temp makes sense though.

frank2926 · 11/19/2006, 09:41 AM

they are all auto temp, if you just wait 30 secs for the temp to match the refracto.

11/17/2006, 01:46 PM	#1
aqualab Moved On Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Syracuse Area Posts: 587	Refractometers Captive Reef or Sybon? Does it matter - Why?

11/17/2006, 02:15 PM	#4
oldsaltman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ga Posts: 1,333	I have the RHS-10ATC from Marine Depot and am happy with it. It's cheap and accurate. __________________ "No honey I can't just send it back. It's all wet and they won't take it back now!" Current Tank Info: 90g inwall with a 30g sump

11/17/2006, 02:34 PM	#5
titan04 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 182	Any should be ok... Just make sure NOT to calibrate them with RO/DI and calibrate them with 53mS or 35ppt saltwater calibration fluid. You can make your own as well but if you are ordering one it is only like $2 more. I have had a few calibrated with RO/DI and they were reading 1.025 when it was really 1.022. Once you calibrate them with the right fluid all is well. Most of the cheaper ones are 99% not dead on if you calibrate them with RO/DI and probably most the expensive ones as well. __________________ Why do I always like the expensive hobbies? Current Tank Info: 30G cube, 250W MH, 56W PC, SPS, Clam and Zoanthids @ 1500GPH...

11/17/2006, 02:58 PM	#7
titan04 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 182	I knew there would be exceptions to the rule But it is good to double check it with what you actually are wanting to measure... just as a check if nothing else... we spend enough money on stability without having to laugh at the LFS for saying your water is lower in salinity only to find out they were right :-( __________________ Why do I always like the expensive hobbies? Current Tank Info: 30G cube, 250W MH, 56W PC, SPS, Clam and Zoanthids @ 1500GPH...

11/17/2006, 03:00 PM	#8
oldsaltman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ga Posts: 1,333	IMO - I think that any refractometer is useless unless it is properly and accurately calibrated. __________________ "No honey I can't just send it back. It's all wet and they won't take it back now!" Current Tank Info: 90g inwall with a 30g sump

11/17/2006, 02:04 PM	#2
FiReC Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Gilbert Posts: 388	i got a captive purity last week and one of the hinge pins fell out already, i think its a piece of crap.

11/17/2006, 02:10 PM	#3
aqualab Moved On Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Syracuse Area Posts: 587	Saw this one on Drs f & s - anybody? Vital Sine Refractometer

11/19/2006, 09:32 AM	#9
aqualab Moved On Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Syracuse Area Posts: 587	Looks like I will go with Premium Aquatics Sybon version - they are presently out of stock right now though. I also saw one made by Milwaukee too - I would think some of these are made by the same company - just put their own name on it. Prices are all over the place on these. Do you really need the lighted version - or just a gimmick? Auto temp makes sense though.

11/19/2006, 09:41 AM	#10
frank2926 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: phila Posts: 1,645	they are all auto temp, if you just wait 30 secs for the temp to match the refracto.